Confused about tiny CalFresh benefit ($85) with SSI and Social Security - am I missing something?

Unfortunately, your benefit amount is calculated correctly. When you receive both SSI and Social Security, CalFresh uses a specific formula that doesn't give as much weight to housing costs as you might expect. Here's what's happening: 1. They combine your income ($492 SS + $728 SSI = $1,220) 2. They apply a standard deduction (about $193) 3. They only count a portion of your shelter costs above a threshold 4. Then they expect you to spend 30% of your "net income" on food The important thing: Did you tell them about ALL your medical expenses? As a senior, you're entitled to deduct medical expenses over $35 per month. This includes prescriptions, doctor visits, health insurance premiums, transportation to medical appointments, and even over-the-counter medications if prescribed by a doctor. Many seniors don't realize how many medical expenses qualify!

THEY ARE ROBBING US ELDERLY PEOPLE BLIND!!!!! I'm 68 and they give me $97 a month in CalFresh even though my rent is $950!! How are we supposed to survive???? The system is RIGGED against seniors. I went to the office THREE TIMES trying to get them to count all my expenses and they just type in their computer and say "that's what the formula says" like robots. Don't waste your breath calling them - they NEVER answer anyway and if they do they just transfer you around until you get disconnected. 😡😡😡

Ya my grandma had same thing happen she only gets like $95 and shes on SSI too. She called like 8 times and nobody ever picked up then she got a letter saying she missed her interview but nobody ever called her lol. The whole system is a joke

I was in the exact same boat last year - getting $79 on CalFresh with similar income. I kept calling and calling the county office about my medical expenses but could never get through. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real person at the county within 5 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE After I got through and explained all my medical expenses (they let me submit receipts and everything), my benefit went up to $178! Definitely worth reporting ALL your medical expenses - every dollar counts at our age.

they dont count rent for calfresh anymore since 2020 i think its stupid but thats how it is now my worker told me

Just wanted to share that I'm also a senior (71) on SSI and I only get $23 a month in CalFresh! It's ridiculous. i spend more than that on one trip to the store these days. have you checked if you qualify for the food bank? most areas have special senior food boxes that are actually pretty good. that's how i supplement my food budget

Here's something important that many people miss: you can ask for a recalculation of your CalFresh benefits at ANY time, not just during recertification. If you have medical expenses over $35/month (which it sounds like you do), make sure to report ALL of them: - Prescription medications - Medicare premiums (Part B, Part D, supplements) - Doctor/dentist visit copays - Over-the-counter medications IF recommended by a doctor - Medical supplies (like bandages, testing strips, etc.) - Transportation to medical appointments (bus fare, gas, parking) - Health insurance premiums For proof, they'll accept receipts, Medicare statements, pharmacy printouts, or sometimes just a signed statement. Be persistent! Every $3 in medical expenses you prove can increase your CalFresh by about $1.

also check if u can get brown bag program idk if its everywhere but in my area they deliver free groceries to seniors once a month my mom gets it

To answer your question about receipts - when I called, they said any reasonable documentation works. For prescriptions, I had my pharmacy print a 3-month history. For doctor visits, I showed copay receipts. For over-the-counter stuff, I didn't have receipts for everything, so they let me complete a form estimating monthly expenses. They were actually quite helpful once I finally got through to someone! I'd recommend trying early in the morning to call - like right when they open. That's when I had the best luck before discovering Claimyr.

One more important thing: CalFresh has special rules for "mixed households" where some members get SSI and some don't. If anyone else lives with you who doesn't receive SSI, the calculation gets more complicated. Is anyone else in your household? Also, if your medical expenses change month to month, you can report increases anytime - you don't have to wait for recertification. Just call or submit a report of change.

herd theres a program called CSFP for seniors too its like government food boxes but better than regular food bank stuff my neighbor gets it

I'm in a similar situation - 69 years old on SSI and only getting $112 in CalFresh. What really helped me was keeping a detailed log of ALL my medical expenses for a month, including things I didn't think would count. I was surprised that my heating pad (doctor recommended for arthritis), special diabetic socks, and even the gas money for my monthly blood work appointments all qualified as medical deductions. The key is being very thorough and persistent. I ended up writing everything down before calling so I wouldn't forget anything during the conversation. Also, if they deny any of your medical expenses, ask them to explain in writing WHY it doesn't qualify - sometimes they're wrong about what counts and will correct it when pressed for details. One tip: if you take any over-the-counter medications regularly (like daily vitamins, pain relievers, etc.), ask your doctor to write a simple note saying they recommend them. That can turn non-deductible expenses into deductible medical expenses.

I'm also a senior dealing with this frustrating CalFresh system! At 67 with similar income sources, I totally understand your confusion. One thing that really helped me was learning that as seniors, we can get what's called an "expedited recalculation" if we report new medical expenses. Don't just call - also try submitting a written "Report of Change" form (you can usually find it online for your county or pick one up at the office). Sometimes written requests get processed faster than phone calls that never get answered. Also, make sure they're using the correct "Standard Medical Deduction" for seniors. If your monthly medical expenses are over $35 but under about $190, they should automatically give you a standard deduction without requiring receipts for every little thing. Many caseworkers forget to apply this correctly. And here's something most people don't know - if you're spending your own money on special dietary foods for health conditions (like diabetic foods, low-sodium items, etc.), those can sometimes count as medical expenses too if your doctor recommends that diet. Worth asking about!